Jf Frst. Jfleeters J}Etu~Letter
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• 'To iivc 011 in the he.arts and minds of jfellotfr~btp Dcs::cndants fr 11c;1cr to die!" of 1788 AD . jffrst .jfleeters J}etu~letter =~ :: :::: - JOURNAL OF THE FELLOWSHIP OF FIRST FLEETER$ INC. NSW 1988 PRICE: 50c Registered by° Australia Post Publication No. NBH 1271 PATRON: His Excellency Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair, AO, Governor of New South Wales. OFFICE ADDRESS: First Fleet House 105 Cathedral Street, Woolloomooloo, N.S.W. 2011 TELEPHONE: (02) 360-3788, 360-3988 PRESIDENTS REPORT FOR MAY/JUNE 1991 Please excuse the change of format during the interim period following Rhonda Kroenhert's resignation as Editor. Our thanks are given to Rhonda for all her hard work. Recent work on the Sydney Town Hall revealed the presence of at least 5 graves dating from the time when the site was one of Australia's first cemeteries. The contractor's who were supposed to have removed all the bodies to other cemeteries before building the Town Hall in the 1840's clearly didn't do a good job. Alice Oarke and I had the opportunity of visiting the site. For Alice, a James Bloodworth descendant, it meant seeing some of her ancestor's work. One of the bodies was that of a man some 5' 1O" tall who died around 1797 and was buried in a finely built coffin. From my studies of all convict indents I know that very few non-negroid convicts were that height. As a result I requested the Coroner to examine the body to see if it was that of a Negroid. If it is could it be that of FF John Caesar? If it is how can the quality oi the grave and coffin be reconciled? As information becomes available I'll report further. The 1991-92 Fees are now due. The Committee has decided to not keep pace with inflation but to restrict the increase to a moderate one. Yours in fellowship James Hugh Donohoe LIBRARY Thanks are given to those who have donated the following: r-- "Toe Story of John Nichols:First Fleeter" donated by Mavis Coghlan. "Finetta-A Family Saga 1791-1987" donated by the author H. Norton. "A Rich Inheritance" Vols.l & 2 ed. N.P.Morrissey donated by the William Roberts & Kezia Brown Association "St Peter's Richmond-The Early People and Burials" by Y.Browning. "William Broughton and the Kennedy Connection" donated by the author, M. Carty. COACH TRIP A special coach excursion has been arranged to attend the King Plaque Ceremony at St. Mary Magdalene and then to visit "Glenleigh". This 2 storey Scottish Baronial privately owned house, is on the eastern bank of the Nepean R. at Regentville. We will also inspect ~Combewood" Penrith. this is a most distinguished late nineteenth century house still owned by descendants of the original owner. Time permitting we will call in at the Cranebrook Herb & Health Cottage for a tea tasting . .IM.IE: Sunday 7 July 1991 DEPARTURE: 9.00am Scots Church,York Street, Sydney; or 9.30am (pick up) Parramatta Station after Ceremony St. Mary Magdalene Church. RETURN:5.30pm (approx.) to York Street. CQSI: $25.00 per person. BOOKINGS:All bookings to be made and paid for at FF House by Monday 1 July 1991 . -Please bring a cut lunch- r LIBRARY Ian Forster's book on the story of Ano Forbes, First Fleeter, called GUILTY, NO CHATTELS, TO BE HANGED, and referred to in the last Newsletter, may be purchased from the author 6 Bligh Street Northbridge 2063 (tel.02-9587257) at a cost of $15.00 plus $2.00 p&p.The author has kindly donated a copy to the FFF Library. BIRTHS Congratulations on the following: . # Melanie Louise Hegarty (FF T.Amdell, W.Dring, M.Darnell, A.Forbes, M.Everingham, O.Cavanaugh) was born on 1 January 1991-first child of Sallyanne & Chris Hegarty; first grandchild of Helen & Neil Marsh; and first great grandchild of May & Gordon Greentree. # Ethan Gray Pankhurst (FF M.Everingham) was born on 5 May 1991-second son of Garry(#2742) and Debra Pankhurst; and fourth grandson of Joy Pankhurst(#2740). # Benjamin Peter Woodbury (FF M .Everingham) was born on 4 January 1991-first child for Peter(#5650) and Joanne Woodbury. DEATHS Sympathy is extended to: The family of Frank Peacock,an associate member, and in particular to his widow, Amy (FF H.Kable,S.Holmes). PARRAMAITA PLAOUE CEREMONY Despite wet weather and a lack of known descendants a large crowd gathered at St. John's Cemetery, Parramatta on 14 April 1991 for the dedication of plaques on the graves of FF Mary . Dykes(Dix) and FF Christopher Palmer. The unveiling of the plaques was undertaken by the Lord Mayor of Parramatta,Alderman Alan Hyam and a prayer of dedication was said over each plaque by Canon Ray Bomford of St. John's Cathedral. The eulogy for each of the First Fleeters was read by Mrs Joyce Cowell (our Archivist) as to Mary Dykes; and by Mrs Betty Loneragan(a descendant of Christopher's brother John,a former Committee member and the person nominated by the John Palmer Society) as to Christopher Palmer. Mr Les Wickham, President of the St. John's Cemetery Trust(who was also accompanied by Mr Ron Nosford, the Secretary of the Trust) also addressed those present. The stories of each of these FF is set out in our book "Where First Fleeters Lie"-copies of which r"'\ are still available from FF House for $22.50 per copy plus postage. By way of interest: Aid. Hyam had previously been present at the unveiling of 7 plaques in St John's on 12 March 1978 and Canon Bomford, who is retiring this year, had as his first parish the district of Seven Hills. It was in the Hills District that Mary Dykes lived for most of her life in the Colony. It was particularly pleasing to also note that the Editorial of the Cathedral News of 7 April had been designed as a lead up to the Ceremony. A MEMBER•s ACTMTIES A newspaper cutting has been received about the research activities of member Geoffrey Squires-a former Committee member. The article describes his continuing work with the Berrima District Historical Society. His work in the Society's archives at the Old School of Arts,Mittagong is especially mentionned. It reminds all of us just how important the records of local history areas can be in putting together the story of the past.As Geoff mentions photographs,maps cemetery transcriptions,documents,biographies,newspapers and microfiche can all be held. The local history societies involved with your family could well be worth a visit. DON'T FORGET TO RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR EARLY. .,._ PLAQUE CEREMONY IN UNITED KINGDOM The next plaque ceremony will soon be upon us. This continues the series of ceremonies which the Fellowship is organising to locate and identify all graves of those who travelled on the First Fleet. This time we are again in England-for the grave of FF Captain John Hunter. Hunter also became the second Governor of the Colony of New South Wales. The churchyard in which John Hunter's grave is located is that of the Parish Church of St John's Hackney. This church was destroyed in a bombing raid during the Second World War and never rebuilt. The churchyard is now in the control of the London Borough of Hackney and the Wardens of the Parish of Hackney. The President will be represented at the ceremony by Vice-President Alice Clarke-who is presently in England organising the event. It is hoped that the plaque on the grave will be unveiled by the Australian High Commissioner in London. All members are cordially invited to attend at St John's Hackney Churchyard, Hackney, London on Sunday 16th June 1991 at 12.30pm. · Further details can be obtained from Alice Clarke c/- Kensington Plaza Hotel,61 Gloucester Road,Kensington SW7 London (tel. 071-584-8100.) CHANGE OF ADDRESS Please note that the new address for the NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages is : 191 Thomas Street, Haymarket GPO Box 30 Sydney 2001 THE DAYTIME FELLOWSHIP Almost thirty people enjoyed the ferry trip and luncheon on 1 May. We were most pleased with the response. It was a perfect day for cruising up the Parramatta River, and the suggestion of the Abbotsford Rowing Club for our lunch, proved to be a wise one-with an excellent hot meal available for less than $10.00. Our next gathering will be at FF House on 4 July at 11.30 am. It will be a little out of the ordinary r as we are going to watch TV while having some hot soup! Member Alan Skinner, a retired bead master and present resident of Newcastle will be showing footage from the recent earthquake-some of which is exclusive, and was taken before many of the areas were cordoned off. Two long range dates for your diary are:- 4 September-for an outing : details to be advised later: 4 December-our Christmas luncheon at the Bowlers Club, York Street Sydney (yes-that time is being planned for already.) But before these events we hope to see you on 4 July. Bernice Smart GRAVE DONATIONS Donations are gratefully acknowledged towards work on the following graves: Edwin Goodin: Betty Rowell & family; M.Brian Joseph Hatton: B.Dwyer; J.Charlton James Bradley: J.Meredith & family James Squires: M.Brian. PLAQUE CEREMONY AT ST MARY'S ' Alderperson Ao Lo Po, Mayor of the City of Penrith has accepted our invitation to participate in the Dedication Service on Sunday, 7 July 1991 for the memorial plaque on the tombstone of FF Philip Gidley King.